In 15 Seconds
- Used to state the purpose of a meeting or action as making choices.
- Functions as a direct, productive alternative to long-winded explanations.
- Always uses the plural 'des' to imply multiple resolutions are needed.
- Fits both professional Zoom calls and casual group chat planning sessions.
Meaning
This phrase describes the specific purpose of an event or discussion, signaling that the goal is to finalize multiple choices. It suggests a transition from brainstorming or debating into the active phase of commitment and resolution. It carries a sense of productive tension, moving from 'what if' to 'this is it.'
Key Examples
3 of 10In a professional Zoom meeting
Nous nous réunissons aujourd'hui pour des décisions budgétaires.
We are meeting today for budget decisions.
Texting a group of friends about a trip
On s'appelle à 20h pour des décisions sur les billets d'avion ?
Shall we call at 8 PM for decisions on the plane tickets?
At a family dinner planning a wedding
C'est le moment idéal pour des décisions concernant le menu.
It's the perfect time for decisions concerning the menu.
Cultural Background
In French corporate culture, meetings are often for debate, but the final 'pour des décisions' moment is usually reserved for the highest-ranking person in the room. Quebecers might use 'pour des décisions' but are also influenced by North American consensus-style management, making the phrase feel slightly more collaborative. In many West African French-speaking countries, 'pour des décisions' can be used in community 'palabres' (discussions) where elders meet to resolve local issues. Swiss French often emphasizes the 'statutory' nature of decisions, reflecting the country's highly organized and rule-based society.
Sound like a boss
Use this phrase at the start of a meeting to immediately command authority and focus the room.
The 'Faire' Trap
Never say 'faire des décisions'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating from English in your head.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to state the purpose of a meeting or action as making choices.
- Functions as a direct, productive alternative to long-winded explanations.
- Always uses the plural 'des' to imply multiple resolutions are needed.
- Fits both professional Zoom calls and casual group chat planning sessions.
What It Means
Ever stood in front of an open fridge for ten minutes, staring at the yogurt, unable to choose a flavor? We’ve all been there. This phrase, pour des décisions, is the linguistic equivalent of someone finally telling you to just pick one and move on. It’s not about the talk; it’s about the result. When you use this expression, you are telling the world (or just your group chat) that the time for 'maybe' is over. It signifies that a meeting, a phone call, or even a quick text session has one goal: making choices. It’s functional, direct, and carries the weight of a person who actually wants to get stuff done. Think of it as the 'checkout' button of a conversation. You’ve done the shopping, and now it’s time to finalize the order.
How To Use It
You’ll usually find this phrase hanging out at the end of a sentence to explain the 'why' behind an action. It acts like a label. If you say, On se réunit pour des décisions, you’re setting a very specific boundary for that meeting. You don’t need a complicated verb like afin de prendre (in order to take) if you want to keep things snappy. Just drop pour des décisions after your main activity. It works beautifully with nouns like réunion (meeting), rendez-vous (appointment), or even temps (time). It’s like saying, 'This slot in my calendar is strictly reserved for the heavy lifting of choosing.' It’s short enough for a Slack message but professional enough for a boardroom. Just remember that des is plural, so you’re signaling that there’s more than one choice on the table. If you only had one thing to decide, you’d use pour une décision instead.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine a Zoom call that has been dragging on for forty-five minutes. People are talking about their cats and the weather. Suddenly, the project manager says, On est là pour des décisions, pas pour discuter du temps. Ouch! But effective. Everyone immediately switches gears. Or think about a couple at an IKEA store. They’ve been looking at sofas for three hours. One of them finally snaps and says, On a trente minutes pour des décisions. It’s the ultimate productivity hack for your social life. You can even use it in a more relaxed way. Texting a friend about dinner? Je t'appelle ce soir pour des décisions sur le restau. It sounds organized and slightly 'boss-like' in a good way. It tells your friend, 'I’m not calling to gossip; I’m calling to eat.'
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase whenever you feel like a situation is becoming too 'floaty.' Use it in professional settings when a project reaches a crossroads and you need the team to commit to a path. It’s also perfect for high-stakes personal moments, like planning a wedding or deciding on a new apartment. If you’re a travel vlogger and you’re filming a segment about choosing a destination with your audience, you might say, C'est le moment pour des décisions. It adds a bit of drama and stakes to your content. In a digital context, it’s great for captions when you’re showing off different options (like two different outfits) and you want your followers to help you choose. It signals that the input you want isn't just 'nice' or 'cool,' but an actual choice.
When NOT To Use It
Don’t use this phrase if the atmosphere is purely social and relaxed. If you’re at a party and you tell someone, Je suis ici pour des décisions, they might think you’re a secret agent or just really, really intense about the hors d'oeuvres. It’s also not the best choice if there’s only one specific thing to decide. Using the plural des makes it sound like a complex process. If you’re just choosing between 'yes' or 'no' on a single question, it sounds a bit overkill. Also, avoid using it when you want to sound soft or indecisive. This phrase is about authority and finality. If you’re trying to be polite and 'go with the flow,' this expression will make you sound way too assertive. Use pour voir (to see) or pour réfléchir (to think) instead.
Common Mistakes
On se voit pour le décisions
✓On se voit pour des décisions (You need the plural indefinite article des).
C'est pour des décision
✓C'est pour des décisions (Don't forget the 's' in writing, even if it's silent!).
Je viens pour une des décisions
✓Je viens pour des décisions (Adding une makes it confusing; stick to the simple plural).
C'est pour faire des décisions
✓C'est pour prendre des décisions (In French, you 'take' decisions, you don't 'make' them, though pour des décisions alone avoids the verb entirely).
One of the biggest blunders is treating décision as a masculine word. It’s une décision, so if you add an adjective, make sure it’s feminine! Don't be the person who says des décisions importants when it should be importantes.
Similar Expressions
If you want to sound a bit more formal, you could use en vue de prendre des décisions. It’s like wearing a suit in sentence form. It means 'with the view of taking decisions.' Another great one is afin de trancher. The verb trancher literally means 'to slice,' but in a decision-making context, it means to settle something once and for all. It’s very powerful. For a more casual vibe, you might say pour choisir. It’s simple, everyone knows it, and it gets the job done without the 'business meeting' energy. If you’re talking about a group effort, pour se mettre d'accord (to reach an agreement) is a friendly alternative that focuses on harmony rather than just the choice itself.
Common Variations
The most common way to beef this phrase up is by adding an adjective. Pour des décisions cruciales (for crucial decisions) or pour des décisions rapides (for quick decisions). You can also change the preposition if the context shifts slightly. Besoin de décisions (need for decisions) is a common way to express urgency. In a more bureaucratic setting, you might hear pour prise de décisions. This turns the act into a formal noun phrase, often used in subject lines of emails or on official agendas. If you’re feeling a bit more modern and 'tech-savvy,' you might even hear people say pour le decision-making in Franglais, but let's stick to the beautiful French version, shall we?
Memory Trick
Think of the word 'Pour' as a literal pitcher. You are 'pouring' all your energy and focus into the 'Decisions.' Imagine a big bucket labeled 'Decisions' and you are pouring your time, your effort, and your coffee into it. If you don't 'pour' enough, the decisions won't be made. Also, remember that des looks like 'DEC' (the start of decisions). Des for Décisions. It’s a rhythmic, snappy little pair. If you can remember that you 'pour' effort into 'decisions,' you'll never forget the preposition. Just don't actually pour coffee on your keyboard during a Zoom call; that's a different kind of decision entirely!
Quick FAQ
Is pour des décisions too formal for friends? Not at all! It just makes you sound like you’re organized. It’s like being the 'mom' or 'dad' of the group who finally picks a restaurant so everyone can stop complaining and start eating. Can I use it with singular words? No, des requires a plural. If you have only one choice, say pour une décision. It’s a small change but it makes a huge difference in how natural you sound. Do I always need a verb before it? Nope! You can use it as a standalone reason. 'Why are you meeting?' 'Pour des décisions.' It’s the ultimate short-answer powerhouse for busy people. Is there a slang version? Not exactly a slang version, but pour trancher is the 'cool' way to say you're going to cut through the nonsense and finally choose.
Usage Notes
This phrase is incredibly versatile, fitting both a formal boardroom and a casual group chat. The main 'gotcha' is using the singular 'le' or 'la' when you mean 'some' (des). It flows best when placed after a noun denoting a meeting or time period.
Sound like a boss
Use this phrase at the start of a meeting to immediately command authority and focus the room.
The 'Faire' Trap
Never say 'faire des décisions'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating from English in your head.
Wait for the 'Chef'
In France, even if you are there 'pour des décisions', wait for the highest-ranking person to signal the final choice.
Examples
10Nous nous réunissons aujourd'hui pour des décisions budgétaires.
We are meeting today for budget decisions.
Sets a professional tone and defines the scope of the meeting clearly.
On s'appelle à 20h pour des décisions sur les billets d'avion ?
Shall we call at 8 PM for decisions on the plane tickets?
Uses the phrase to move from planning to action in a casual setting.
C'est le moment idéal pour des décisions concernant le menu.
It's the perfect time for decisions concerning the menu.
Focuses the family's attention on a specific task among the chaos.
J'ai besoin de vous pour des décisions mode ! Option A ou B ?
I need you for some fashion decisions! Option A or B?
Engages followers using modern social media shorthand.
Assez parlé, on est ici pour des décisions, pas pour le café !
Enough talk, we're here for decisions, not for coffee!
Adds a humorous but firm nudge to get back to work.
L'architecte arrive bientôt pour des décisions sur les couleurs.
The architect is arriving soon for decisions on the colors.
Indicates a professional consultation with a specific goal.
On a besoin d'une soirée calme pour des décisions sur notre futur.
We need a quiet evening for decisions about our future.
Shows the phrase can be used for deep, personal topics.
✗ On fait une réunion pour le décisions → ✓ On fait une réunion pour des décisions.
We are having a meeting for the decisions → We are having a meeting for decisions.
Shows that 'des' is the correct article for general decisions.
✗ Je t'appelle pour faire des décisions → ✓ Je t'appelle pour des décisions.
I'm calling you to make decisions → I'm calling you for decisions.
Demonstrates that the phrase alone is often better than a clunky verb.
On se dépêche pour des décisions ? J'ai faim !
Can we hurry up for some decisions? I'm hungry!
A very common everyday usage when ordering food via apps.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing words to say 'We are here for important decisions'.
Nous sommes ici ________ ________ décisions importantes.
We use 'pour' for purpose and 'des' because 'décisions' is plural.
Which verb is correctly used with 'des décisions' in French?
Il faut ________ des décisions.
In French, you 'take' (prendre) decisions.
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
'Cette réunion est pour des décisions budgétaires.'
'Budgétaires' (budgetary) and 'décisions' are typical of professional environments.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Pourquoi le directeur est-il là ? B: Il est là ________ ________ décisions.
The director is there 'for' (pour) the purpose of 'decisions' (des décisions).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesNous sommes ici ________ ________ décisions importantes.
We use 'pour' for purpose and 'des' because 'décisions' is plural.
Il faut ________ des décisions.
In French, you 'take' (prendre) decisions.
'Cette réunion est pour des décisions budgétaires.'
'Budgétaires' (budgetary) and 'décisions' are typical of professional environments.
A: Pourquoi le directeur est-il là ? B: Il est là ________ ________ décisions.
The director is there 'for' (pour) the purpose of 'decisions' (des décisions).
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, 'pour décider' is more active and common in casual speech. 'Pour des décisions' is more noun-heavy and formal.
Yes, 'la décision' is always feminine. However, 'des' doesn't change for gender.
'Des' is indefinite (some decisions), while 'les' would mean 'the specific decisions we already talked about'.
Rarely. In texts, people usually say 'Faut décider' or 'On fait quoi ?'.
It sounds a bit dramatic for lunch, but you can use it as a joke to sound more serious.
'Pour une simple discussion' or 'Pour réfléchir' (for reflecting/thinking).
It can sound firm. If you want to be softer, say 'Pour en discuter et voir ce qu'on peut décider'.
Very often! 'Sommet à Bruxelles pour des décisions sur l'énergie'.
Yes, that is the most grammatically complete way to say it.
Say 'pour une décision' or 'pour la décision'.
Related Phrases
prendre une décision
builds onTo make a decision
trancher
synonymTo slice/decide
en vue de
similarWith a view to
passer à l'action
specialized formTo move to action
faire un choix
similarTo make a choice